A Senate source explains why numbers have changed in recent hours -- and it has to do with riders. Yesterday evening, Senate Dems were holding firm at cutting spending by $34.5 billion. Republicans wanted something closer to $39 billion. Today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) acknowledged, in a roundabout way, that the new consensus figure was $38 billion, and aides have since confirmed that number.

The source said the additional $3.5 billion was put on the table to sweep all the remaining riders off the table -- that was the price. But for House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), that price doesn't include the measure that would defund Planned Parenthood. He has not agreed to that.

At least not yet. Some high-profile Republicans, including anti-abortion members of his own party, are publicly suggesting that he drop the issue. For his part, Boehner is publicly denying that the zero-hour impasse has anything to do with riders -- and that it's all about spending. This is somewhat belied by the fact that Dems keep publicly admitting to giving up more and more money.